Data Scientist – Cost Engineering (FinOps)

Spotify; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading music streaming service is seeking a Data Scientist to join their Cost Engineering Product Area. You will identify key opportunities for optimizing costs and reducing carbon impact to help drive sustainability. This role requires a degree in a quantitative field and experience in delivering actionable insights. Proficiency in tools like Python and SQL is essential. You will work flexibly within the EMEA region, contributing to a dynamic and inclusive team focused on innovative solutions.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in delivering insights influencing business and technical strategy.
• Ability to thrive in uncertain environments using data for clarity.
• Hands-on experience with cloud cost optimization methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Identify key opportunities for cost optimization and carbon impact reduction.
• Influence procurement and technology infrastructure strategies.
• Manage cloud carbon emissions reporting methodology.

Skills

Data analysis

Communication

Collaboration

Cloud cost optimization

Financial concepts

Education

Degree in data science, computer science, statistics, economics, or mathematics

Tools

Python

DBT

BigQuery

SQL

Tableau

Job description

At Spotify, we believe in the power of creativity to change the world. To make that possible, we need to build and scale our infrastructure in a way that’s both cost-efficient and climate-conscious. That’s where you come in.

We are looking for a Data Scientist to join the Cost Engineering Product Area, whose mission is to drive sustainability through cost and climate intelligence, amplifying Spotify's ability to deliver creativity to the world. Cost Engineering is responsible for optimizing the cost and carbon footprint of our infrastructure and software. Our team operates at the intersection of technology, product, procurement, and finance, making it one of the most dynamic and impactful places to work at Spotify.

As an Analytics Specialist in Cost Engineering, you’ll build decisions that drive Spotify’s technological and financial trajectory. By revealing impactful findings, you'll assist us in improving both expenses and environmental impact, allowing Spotify to expand sustainably while minimizing our climate influence.

What You’ll Do

• Pinpoint the key opportunities for optimizing costs and reducing carbon impact, teaming up with Engineering to propel them forward.
• Provide insights that directly influence Procurement and Technology Infrastructure strategies, shaping how Spotify invests in and scales its infrastructure.
• Take ownership of our cloud carbon emissions reporting methodology and tooling, ensuring it continues to evolve in close collaboration with the Head of Climate and Sustainability.
• Work with Engineering to build new datasets that power the next generation of carbon and cost intelligence tools.
• Make a direct impact on Spotify’s sustainability journey, reducing both costs and carbon emissions at massive scale.
• Be part of a mission-driven team that combines deep technical expertise with tangible business impact.

Who You Are

• A data scientist with proven experience delivering insights that influence business and technical strategy.
• Hold a degree in data science, computer science, statistics, economics, mathematics, or another quantitative field.
• Thrive in environments with high uncertainty, using data to cut through ambiguity and recommend clear paths forward.
• An excellent communicator who can tell compelling stories with data, making sophisticated topics understandable and inspiring for varied audiences.
• Familiar with accounting and financial concepts and able to connect numbers to real-world impact.
• Collaborative by nature—valuing positive relationships with colleagues and cross-functional partners.
• Hands-on experience with cloud cost optimization (GCP preferred) and emissions reporting methodologies.
• Skilled in tools like Python, DBT, BigQuery, SQL, and Tableau to turn sophisticated data into actionable insights.

Where You’ll Be

• We offer you the flexibility to work where you work best! For this role, you can be within the EMEA region as long as we have a work location (excluding France due to on-call restrictions).
• This team operates within the Central European and GMT time zone for collaboration.

Spotify is an equal opportunity employer. You are welcome at Spotify for who you are, no matter where you come from, what you look like, or what’s playing in your headphones. Our platform is for everyone, and so is our workplace. The more voices we have represented and amplified in our business, the more we will all thrive, contribute, and be forward-thinking! So bring us your personal experience, your perspectives, and your background. It’s in our differences that we will find the power to keep revolutionizing the way the world listens.

At Spotify, we are passionate about inclusivity and making sure our entire recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We have ways to request reasonable accommodations during the interview process and help assist in what you need. If you need accommodations at any stage of the application or interview process, please let us know - we’re here to support you in any way we can.